Banknote feeding apparatus

ABSTRACT

A banknote feeding apparatus  10  comprises a first kicker roller  16  configured to be in contact with a surface of one banknote of a plurality of banknotes stored in the banknote storage unit  101 , and further configured to be continuously rotated; a second kicker roller  18  provided upstream relative to the first kicker roller  16  in a feed direction of the banknotes, and configured to be continuously rotated, in the same direction of rotation, at approximately the same peripheral velocity, as those of the first kicker roller  16 ; and a feed roller  12  adapted for feeding each banknote kicked by the first kicker roller  16 . The first kicker roller  16  has a high friction unit  16   a  adapted for kicking each banknote and partly provided in the outer circumference of the first kicker roller  16 . The second kicker roller  18  has a low friction unit  18   a  having a coefficient of friction lower than the coefficient of friction of the high friction unit  16   a  of the first kicker roller  16  and provided over the whole outer circumference of the second kicker roller  18 . The outer-circumferential length of the first kicker roller  16  is set greater than a length in a feed direction of the banknote having the largest size of the banknotes to be fed out by the banknote feeding apparatus  10.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a banknote feeding apparatus adaptedfor feeding a plurality of banknotes stored in a banknote storage unit,one by one, and particularly relates to the banknote feeding apparatuswhich can feed various kinds of banknotes respectively having differentsizes, one by one, stably.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, a banknote handling machine, which can sort thebanknotes deposited from a customer, for each kind thereof, and thenstore them therein, has been known. In such a banknote handling machine,the banknotes, when deposited in the machine, are first received in ahopper. Then, the banknotes received in the hopper are fed to theinterior of the banknote handling machine, one by one, by the banknotefeeding apparatus.

The conventional banknote feeding apparatus comprises a feed rollerprovided in the vicinity of the hopper and adapted for feeding thebanknotes, one by one, successively, a gate roller (or reversal roller)provided to be opposed to the feed roller, thereby forming a gate partbetween the gate roller and the feed roller, and a kicker rollerprovided just below the hopper and adapted for kicking one banknote,present at the lowest layer of the banknotes stored in the hopper,toward the feed roller.

It is preferred that various kinds of banknotes of each country in theworld, such as yen banknotes, dollar banknotes, euro banknotes and thelike, can be selected as objects to be stored in the banknote handlingmachine. In this case, in the banknote feeding apparatus as describedabove, when such various kinds of banknotes of each country in the worldare stored in the hopper, the size of each banknote should differ, foreach kind thereof. Therefore, in some cases, there is a risk that thekicking operation for the banknotes due to the kicker roller may not beperformed, one by one, stably. In addition, in the case in whichrelatively small-sized banknotes are stored in the hopper and only onekicker roller is provided for kicking such banknotes, each banknotekicked by the kicker roller may tend to be advanced obliquely relativeto a normal feed direction thereof.

As another conventional banknote feeding apparatus, the apparatusdisclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2522467 has beenknown. Specifically, the banknote feeding apparatus disclosed inJapanese Utility Model Registration No. 2522467 is configured to feedeach banknote in such a manner that the banknote is grasped between apair of belts or between one belt and one roller. However, also in thisbanknote feeding apparatus, the size of each banknote should differ, foreach kind thereof, when the various kinds of banknotes as describedabove are fed by the apparatus. This makes it difficult to feed thebanknotes, one by one, stably.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was made in light of the above problems.Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newbanknote feeding apparatus, which can feed various kinds of banknotesrespectively having different sizes, one by one, stably.

The banknote feeding apparatus of the present invention is adapted forfeeding a plurality of banknotes stored in a banknote storage unit, oneby one, through a feed opening of the banknote storage unit, andcomprises: a feed roller provided in the vicinity of the feed opening ofthe banknote storage unit and adapted for feeding out the banknotes, oneby one, successively, through the feed opening toward the exterior ofthe banknote storage unit; a gate unit provided to be opposed to thefeed roller, thereby forming a gate part between the gate unit and thefeed roller; a first kicker roller configured to be in contact with asurface of one banknote of the plurality of banknotes stored in thebanknote storage unit and adapted for kicking the one contacted banknotetoward the gate part, the first kicker roller being further configuredto be continuously rotated and having an outer-circumferential lengthset greater than a length in a feed direction of the banknote having thelargest size of the banknotes to be fed out by the banknote feedingapparatus, and further having a high friction unit adapted for kickingeach banknote and partly provided in the outer circumference of thefirst kicker roller; and a second kicker roller provided upstreamrelative to the first kicker roller in the feed direction of thebanknotes, the second kicker roller being configured to be continuouslyrotated, at approximately the same peripheral velocity as that of thefirst kicker roller, and having a low friction unit having a coefficientof friction lower than the coefficient of friction of the high frictionunit of the first kicker roller and provided over the whole outercircumference of the second kicker roller.

According to this banknote feeding apparatus, the second kicker rolleradapted for additionally kicking each banknote toward the feed roller isprovided, in addition to the first kicker roller adapted for directlykicking the banknote toward the feed roller, and the length of the outercircumference of the first kicker roller is set greater than the lengthin the feed direction of the banknote having the largest size of thebanknotes to be fed out by the banknote feeding apparatus. Moreover, thefirst kicker roller and second kicker roller are respectively configuredto be continuously rotated at approximately the same peripheralvelocity. Therefore, even in the case in which various kinds ofbanknotes respectively having different sizes are stored in the banknotestorage unit, the kicking operation for such banknotes toward the feedroller can be securely performed. More specifically, even in the case inwhich the position of each banknote stored in the banknote storage unitis considerably shifted away from the feed roller, such a shiftedbanknote can be fed toward the feed roller by the second kicker rollercontinuously rotated at approximately the same peripheral velocity asthat of the first kicker roller. Therefore, a failure or error can beprevented, upon the kicking operation for each banknote toward the feedroller by using such kicker rollers. Additionally, even when eachbanknote is not in contact with the high friction unit of the firstkicker roller, the low friction part provided over the whole outercircumference of the continuously rotated second kicker roller canalways push the banknote toward the feed roller. Thus, such a banknotepushed toward the feed roller will be securely kicked by the highfriction unit of the first kicker roller.

In the banknote feeding apparatus of the present invention, it ispreferred that the diameter of the first kicker roller is approximatelythe same as the diameter of the second kicker roller, wherein the firstkicker roller and second kicker roller are arranged, respectively, inpositions such that the first kicker roller can be partly andalternately overlapped with the second kicker roller, when seen in anaxial direction of the first kicker roller, without any interferencebetween the first kicker roller and the second kicker roller in theaxial direction of the first kicker roller. With such configuration, adistance between the first kicker roller and the second kicker rollercan be reduced, thus each banknote can be brought into contact with bothof the first and second kicker rollers, in a flattened condition, evenin the case in which relatively small-sized banknotes are stored in thebanknote storage unit. Accordingly, the second kicker roller can beutilized for supporting the kicking operation for the banknotes.

In the banknote feeding apparatus of the present invention, it ispreferred that the first kicker roller is provided in a plural numberalong a common shaft, wherein the positions, in which the plurality offirst kicker rollers are arranged, are set, respectively, such that,when assuming that the banknote having the smallest size of thebanknotes to be fed out by the banknote feeding apparatus is dividedinto a pair of left and right regions, with respect to an imaginarycentral line defined along the feed direction of the banknotes, such apair of left and right regions of the banknote having the smallest sizeand stored in any given position of the banknote storage unit can bekicked out by the first kicker rollers, respectively. With thisconfiguration, the pair of left and right regions of the banknote havingany given size can be kicked out by the first kicker rollers,respectively corresponding to the regions. Thus, the kicking operationfor the banknotes due to such first kicker rollers can securely preventeach banknote from being advanced in an unduly oblique state, relativeto a normal feed direction thereof (i.e., a direction vertical to theaxial direction of the feed roller). Therefore, the feeding speed of thebanknotes can also be highly elevated.

In the banknote feeding apparatus of the present invention, it ispreferred that three first kicker rollers are provided, wherein one ofthe three first kicker rollers is located corresponding to a centralposition of the banknote storage unit in a direction along the shaft ofthe first kicker rollers, and wherein the other two of the three firstkicker rollers are respectively located in positions that aresymmetrical about the first kicker roller located corresponding to thecentral position of the banknote storage unit. With such configuration,since one of the three kicker rollers is located corresponding to thecentral position of the banknote storage unit, the pair of left andright regions of each banknote can be securely kicked by the centralfirst kicker roller and either one of the left and right first kickerrollers, respectively, even in the case in which the banknote is locatedin any given position of the banknote storage unit. Accordingly, thisfeeding operation for the banknotes due to such first kicker rollers canprevent, more securely, each banknote from being advanced in an undulyoblique state relative to the normal feed direction thereof.

In the banknote feeding apparatus of the present invention, it ispreferred that two second kicker rollers are arranged along a commonshaft, while each second kicker roller is located between each adjacentpair of the first kicker rollers, wherein the first kicker rollers andsecond kicker rollers are arranged, respectively, in positions such thateach first kicker roller can be partly and alternately overlapped witheach second kicker roller, when seen in the axial direction of the firstkicker roller. In this case, each second kicker roller can support thekicking operation for the banknotes, even in the case in which eachbanknote is located in any given position of the banknote storage unit.Therefore, even in the case in which various kinds of banknotesrespectively having different sizes are stored in the banknote storageunit, the kicking operation for the banknotes toward the feed roller canbe performed more securely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of a banknote handlingmachine comprising a banknote feeding apparatus of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing general internal construction ofthe banknote handling machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing construction of the banknote feedingapparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view when the banknote feeding apparatus shown in FIG. 3is seen from above.

FIG. 5 is an illustration showing a state, in which a pair of left andright regions of one banknote present at the lowest layer of thebanknotes stored in a hopper, are respectively kicked by first kickerrollers respectively corresponding to the regions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described,with reference to the drawings. It should be construed that thisembodiment is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention,but is merely intended to describe and show one preferred examplethereof.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, general construction of a banknotehandling machine provided with a banknote feeding apparatus of thepresent invention will be discussed.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of the banknote handlingmachine 100 related to one exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 1, the banknote handling machine 100comprises a hopper 101, two reject units 102, an operation unit 103, afirst general display unit 104, a second general display unit 105, fourstacking units 106 and four individual display units 107.

The hopper 101 is configured such that a plurality of banknotes can beplaced thereon, in a stacked condition, by an operator. The banknotesonce stored in the hopper 101 will be fed to the interior of thebanknote handling machine 100 by the banknote feeding apparatus 10 aswill be described later. Each reject unit 102 can serve to discharge thebanknote, when this banknote fed from the hopper 101 is a rejectedbanknote (e.g., a counterfeit banknote or the like). For instance, alower one of the two reject units 102 may be used for discharging eachcounterfeit banknote or the like, while the upper reject unit 102 may beused for storing therein each banknote excluded from ones to be sortedalthough it has been recognized by a recognition unit 220 as will bedescribed below.

The operation unit 103 includes input keys for inputting instructions ofthe operator therein. The first general display unit 104 and secondgeneral display unit 105 are respectively provided for displayingpredetermined data (e.g., graphic data or the like). Each stacking unit106 is configured to stack therein the banknotes fed from the hopper 101due to the banknote feeding apparatus 10, for each attribute (e.g.,denomination or the like) of the banknotes. Each individual display unit107 is provided corresponding to each stacking unit 106, and isconfigured to display the number of banknotes stacked in thecorresponding stacking unit 106. While the two reject units 102, fourstacking units 106 and four individual display units 107 arerespectively depicted in FIG. 1, each number of these components can bealtered without any limitation.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing general internal construction ofthe banknote handling machine 100 shown in FIG. 1, and is intended inparticular to illustrate a transport system and a sensor system thereof.

As shown in FIG. 2, a transport path 201 configured for transportingeach banknote to each stacking unit 106 from the hopper 101 is providedin the banknote handling machine 100. Usually, the transport path 201 iscomposed of several belt transport mechanisms combined with one another.Various sensors 202 to 214 are provided along the transport path 201.The sensor 202 provided on the side of an outlet of the hopper 101 andthe sensor 203 provided on the side of an inlet of the recognition unit220 as will be described later can serve to detect whether or not eachbanknote is securely taken in the transport path 201, respectively. Therecognition unit 220 provided along the transport path 201 is composedof various detection units, and serves to detect fitness,authentication, denomination, orientation, face/back and the like ofeach banknote taken therein from the hopper 101. More specifically, therecognition unit 220 includes a sensor 204 composed of, for example, atransparent sensor, wherein the sensor 204 is adapted for detecting thedenomination, authentication and the like of each banknote, by the lighttransmission.

On the downstream side relative to the recognition unit 220 in thetransport path 201, two diverters 231 are provided in series. Eachdiverter 231 is configured to feed each banknote that cannot berecognized by the recognition unit 220 or banknote that is excluded fromones to be sorted although it has been recognized by the recognitionunit 220, to each corresponding reject unit 102. The sensors 205, 206can serve to detect that each banknote is fed from each diverter 231 toeach corresponding reject unit 102, respectively. Meanwhile, eachbanknote selected as one to be sorted is detected, about its transportedcondition, by the sensor 207, and then further transported through thetransport path 201. On the downstream side relative to the diverters 231in the transport path 201, three diverters 232 to 234 are furtherprovided in series. Each diverter 232 to 234 can serve to feed eachbanknote, which has been fed from the diverter 231 toward eachcorresponding one of the four stacking units 106 according to, forexample, the denomination or the like of the banknote. In this way, eachbanknote that has been recognized, about the denomination or the likethereof, by the recognition unit 220 is stored in a suitable one of thefour stacking unit 106. The sensors 208 to 214 can serve to detectwhether or not the sorting operation for the banknotes from thetransport path 201 to each stacking unit 106 is appropriately performed,respectively. Further, the storage condition of the banknotes in eachstacking unit 106 is detected by each corresponding residue detectionsensor 221 to 224.

Next, construction of the banknote feeding apparatus 10 provided in thebanknote handling machine 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be detailed,with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The banknote feeding apparatus 10 isconfigured to feed the banknotes stored in the hopper 101, one by one,to the transport path 201 in the banknote handling machine 100. FIG. 3is a side view showing the construction of the banknote feedingapparatus 10, and FIG. 4 is a top view when the banknote feedingapparatus shown in FIG. 3 is seen from above. In particular, FIG. 4 isintended to illustrate each positional relationship between feed rollers12, first kicker rollers 16 and second kicker rollers 18.

First, referring to FIG. 3, the hopper 101 configured for storingtherein the banknotes to be fed by the banknote feeding apparatus 10will be described. The hopper 101 is composed of a bottom plate 101 aand a side plate 101 b, and is configured to store therein thebanknotes, while the banknotes are stacked on the bottom plate 101 a. Asshown in FIG. 3, a feed opening 101 c is provided to a bottom portion ofthe hopper 101, such that the banknotes stored in the hopper 101 can befed to the outside from the feed opening 101 c. The bottom plate 101 ais slightly inclined downward, relative to a horizontal plane, as onegoes toward the feed opening 101 c. In accordance with this inclination,the side plate 101 b extends obliquely upward.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the banknote feeding apparatus 10 comprisesthe first kicker rollers 16, each provided to be in contact with asurface of one banknote present at the lowest layer of the plurality ofbanknotes stored in the stacked condition in the hopper 101, the secondkicker rollers 18, each located upstream relative to the first kickerrollers 16 in a feed direction of the banknotes (i.e., a directiondepicted by arrows in FIGS. 3, 4), and the feed rollers 12, each locateddownstream relative to the first kicker rollers 16 in the feed directionof the banknotes and adapted for feeding each banknote kicked by thefirst kicker rollers 16. In addition, gate rollers (or reversal rollers)14 are provided to be opposed to the corresponding feed rollers 12,thereby forming a gate part between each gate roller 14 and each feedroller 12. With such configuration, the banknotes kicked out by thefirst kicker rollers 16 can be fed to the transport path 201, one byone, through the feed opening 101 c and gate parts.

The feed rollers 12 include a pair of left and right rollers, as shownin FIGS. 3 and 4, each having a rubber 12 a partly provided to an outercircumference thereof. Namely, each banknote kicked by the first kickerrollers 16 through the feed opening 101 c will be fed out by the rubbers12 a at the gate parts. One common shaft 13 is provided for the pair ofleft and right feed rollers 12. This shaft 13 is configured to becontinuously rotated by a stepping motor 15.

The gate rollers 14 include a pair of left and right rollers, eachprovided to be opposed to each corresponding feed roller 12, as shown inFIG. 3. A rubber is provided to an outer circumference of each gateroller 14. As described above, the gate part is formed between each gateroller 14 and each corresponding feed roller 12. This gate part isformed into a gap corresponding to the thickness of one banknote. Thus,the banknotes kicked out by the first kicker rollers 16 can be fedthrough gate parts, while being restricted one by one. Morespecifically, each gate roller 14, as shown in FIG. 3, is usuallyprovided to be rotated, intermittently, in a direction reverse to thefeed direction of the banknotes. With such intermittent reverse rotationof each gate roller 14, the whole outer-circumferential face of the gateroller 14 can be utilized, evenly, for forming the gate part. Therefore,uneven wear of the gate roller 14 can be successfully prevented. In thiscase, when only one banknote is fed to the gate part between each gateroller 14 and each corresponding feed roller 12, this banknote can befed to the transport path 201 by the feed roller 12. However, when twoor more banknotes are fed to the gate part while being overlapped one onanother, gate rollers 14 can serve to prevent the second and laterbanknotes from being fed through the gate part together with the firstbanknote (in an overlapped condition).

Each first kicker roller 16 is provided to be in contact with thesurface of one banknote present at the lowest layer of the plurality ofbanknotes stored in the stacked condition in the hopper 101 as shown inFIG. 3, and is configured to be continuously rotated in a directiondepicted by an allow in FIG. 3. More specifically, a shaft 17 iscommonly provided to the first kicker rollers 16, such that the shaft 17of the first kicker rollers 16 can be rotated together with the shaft 13of the feed rollers 12, due to an interlock mechanism (not shown). Thus,when the shaft 13 of the feed rollers 12 is rotated by the steppingmotor 15, the shaft 17 of the first kicker rollers 16 can becontinuously rotated together with the shaft 13. Additionally, as shownin FIG. 3, each first kicker roller 16 has a high friction unit 16 apartly provided in an outer circumference thereof for kicking eachbanknote. Therefore, once each first kicker roller 16 is rotated and thehigh friction unit 16 a thereof is in contact with the banknote of thelowest layer in the hopper 101, this banknote will be kicked out towardthe feed rollers 12.

As shown in FIG. 4, three first kicker rollers 16 are provided to thesingle shaft 17. One of the three first kicker rollers 16 is locatedcorresponding to a central position of the hopper 101 in a directionalong the shaft 17 (or lateral direction in FIG. 4). The other two firstkicker rollers 16 are respectively located in positions that arelaterally symmetrical about the first kicker roller 16 locatedcorresponding to the central position of the hopper 101.

FIG. 5 shows a positional relationship between one banknote 20 havingthe smallest size (e.g., one five-euro banknote) and present at thelowest layer in the hopper 101, the first kicker rollers 16 and thesecond kicker rollers 18. Now, as shown in FIG. 5, assume that thebanknote 20 having the smallest size of the banknotes to be fed by thebanknote feeding apparatus 10 is divided into a pair of left and rightregions 21, 22, with respect to an imaginary central line 20 a definedalong the feed direction (i.e., the direction depicted by an arrow inFIG. 5) of the banknotes. In this case, the three first kicker rollers16 are positioned, respectively, such that the pair of left and rightregions 21, 22 of the banknote 20 stored in any given position of thehopper 101 can be securely in contact with the first kicker rollers 16,respectively.

Therefore, even in the case in which the banknotes having any given sizeare stored in the hopper 101, the pair of left and right regions 21, 22of each banknote will be kicked by the corresponding kicker rollers 16,respectively. This can successfully prevent each banknote 20 kicked bythe kicker rollers 16 from being advanced in an unduly oblique state,relative to a normal feed direction thereof (i.e., the directiondepicted by an arrow in FIG. 5). Accordingly, the feeding speed of eachbanknote can be highly elevated up to, for example, 850 sheets ofbanknotes per minute. Additionally, as described above, one of the threefirst kicker rollers 16 is located, corresponding to the centralposition of the hopper 101. Therefore, even in the case in which eachbanknote is located in any given position of the hopper 101, the pair ofleft and right regions 21, 22 of the banknote can be securely kicked bythe central first kicker roller 16 and either one of the other left andright first kicker rollers 16, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5. Thus,the feeding operation due to such first kicker rollers 16 can securelyprevent each banknote kicked by these rollers 16 from being advanced inan unduly oblique state, relative to the normal feed direction of thebanknote.

The second kicker rollers 18 are located upstream relative to the firstkicker rollers 16 in the feed direction, respectively, as shown in FIG.3. Each second kicker roller 18 is configured to be continuously rotatedin a direction depicted by an arrow in FIG. 3. More specifically, asingle shaft 19 is provided commonly to the second kicker rollers 18,such that the shaft 19 of the second kicker rollers 18 can be rotatedtogether with the shaft 13 of the feed rollers 12, due to an interlockmechanism (not shown). Thus, when the shaft 13 of the feed rollers 12 isrotated by the stepping motor 15, the shaft 19 of the second kickerrollers 18 can be continuously rotated together with the shaft 13.Additionally, as shown in FIG. 3, each second kicker roller 18 has a lowfriction unit 18 a provided over the whole outer circumference thereof.The coefficient of friction of the low friction unit 18 a is lower thanthe coefficient of friction of the high friction unit 16 a of each firstkicker roller 16. Therefore, when a banknote is in contact with eachsecond kicker roller 18, such a banknote can be always kicked toward thefeed rollers 12 due to the low friction unit 18 a. In addition, theperipheral velocity of each second kicker roller 18 is approximately thesame as the peripheral velocity of each first kicker roller 16.

The diameter of each second kicker roller 18 is approximately the sameas that of each first kicker roller 16, and is, for example, about 40mm. In this case, the outer-circumferential lengths of each first kickerroller 16 and second kicker roller 18 are respectively set longer thanthe length in the feed direction of the banknote having the largest size(e.g., the 500-euro banknote) of the banknotes to be fed out by thebanknote feeding apparatus 10. Now, the reason for setting the diametersof each kicker roller 16 and 18 at about 40 mm will be described. Asdiscussed herein, various kinds of banknotes respectively havingdifferent sizes are assumed as the banknotes stored in the hopper 101 ofthe banknote handling machine 100. For instance, as the banknote havingthe largest size, the 500-euro banknote having a lateral length of 160mm and a feed direction length of 82 mm can be mentioned. In this case,for continuously feeding such 500-euro banknotes by using the banknotefeeding apparatus 10 while securely performing recognition about eachbanknote by the recognition unit 220 after the banknote is fed out, itis preferred that a space of at least 40 mm is ensured, between onefirst 500-euro banknote and a following 500-euro banknote, respectivelyplaced on the transport path 201. Namely, because the length in the feeddirection of each 500-euro banknote is 82 mm, it is preferred that adistance of about 122 mm is ensured between a distal end of one 500-eurobanknote and the distal end of the following 500-euro banknote.Therefore, it is preferred that the outer-circumferential length of eachfirst kicker roller 16 operated for kicking each banknote toward thefeed rollers 12 is also set at about 122 mm. For this reason, thediameter of each first kicker roller 16 is set at about 40 mm.

As shown in FIG. 4, two second kicker rollers 18 are provided to thesingle shaft 19. In the direction along the shaft 19 (or in the lateraldirection in FIG. 4), the coordinates of the position of each firstkicker roller 16 is different from the coordinates of the position ofeach second kicker roller 18. Specifically, each second kicker roller 18is located between each adjacent pair of the first kicker rollers 16.When seen in the direction along the shaft 19 (e.g., when seen in theleft direction in FIG. 4), the positional relationship between the shaft17 of the first kicker rollers 16 and the shaft 19 of the second kickerrollers 18 is defined, such that each first kicker roller 16 can bepartly and alternately overlapped with each second kicker roller 18 (seeFIG. 3). Now, the reason that each first kicker roller 16, when seen inthe direction along the shaft 17 thereof, is partly and alternatelyoverlapped with each second kicker roller 18 will be discussed. Asdescribed above, the diameters of each first kicker roller 16 and secondkicker roller 18 are set at approximately 40 mm. Therefore, if eachfirst kicker roller 16, when seen in the direction along the shaft 17thereof, is not alternately overlapped with each second kicker roller 18(or if each first kicker roller 16 is spaced away, when seen in thedirection along the shaft 17 thereof, from each second kicker roller18), the banknote having a considerably small size cannot be in contactwith both of the first kicker rollers 16 and the second kicker rollers18, in some cases, in a flattened and non-curved condition. In otherwords, such a small-sized banknote stored in the hopper 101 will be incontact with both of the first kicker rollers 16 and the second kickerrollers 18, in an undesirably curved and downwardly projected form, thusbeing likely to cause some failure or error upon the feeding operationdue to the first kicker rollers 16. However, in this embodiment, sincethe first kicker rollers 16 and second kicker rollers 18 arerespectively located such that each first kicker roller 16, when seen inthe direction along the shaft 17 thereof, is partly and alternatelyoverlapped with each second kicker roller 18, the distance between eachfirst kicker roller 16 and each second kicker roller 18 is reduced.Therefore, even in the case of feeding such a small-sized banknote asdescribed above, the banknote can be in contact with both of the firstkicker rollers 16 and the second kicker rollers 18, in a suitablyflattened and non-curved condition.

Next, the operation and effect of the banknote feeding apparatus 10 asdescribed above will be discussed, with reference to FIGS. 3 through 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the banknotes having various sizes are storedin the hopper 101, in the stacked condition, the banknote present at thelowest layer will be in contact with the first kicker rollers 16 andsecond kicker rollers 18. At this time, the first kicker rollers 16 andsecond kicker rollers 18 are continuously, rotated, respectively, in thedirection depicted by the arrows, at substantially the same peripheralvelocity. Therefore, each time the first kicker rollers 16 make onerotation, respectively, one banknote is kicked toward the feed rollers12, due to the high friction units 16 a of the respective first kickerrollers 16. Meanwhile, the second kicker rollers 18 support this kickingoperation for the banknote, by using the low friction units 18 athereof, respectively. For instance, even when the position of eachbanknote stored in the hopper 101 is considerably shifted away from thefeed rollers 12 and hence such a banknote is not in contact with thefirst kicker rollers 16, the second kicker rollers 18 can kick thebanknote toward the feed rollers 12, thereby to return the banknote toits original position.

Thereafter, each banknote fed to the feed rollers 12 by the first kickerrollers 16 and second kicker rollers 18 will be further fed to thetransport path 201, due to the rubber 12 a of each feed roller 12, atthe gate parts formed between the feed rollers 12 and the gate rollers14. In this way, the banknotes stored in the hopper 101 in the stackedcondition can be transported, one by one, to the interior of thebanknote handling machine 100.

As described above, according to the banknote feeding apparatus 10 ofthis embodiment, the first rollers 16, each having the high frictionunit 16 a partly provided in the outer circumference thereof for kickingeach banknote, and the second kicker rollers 18, each located upstreamrelative to the first rollers 16 in the feed direction of the banknote,are provided. Additionally, each second kicker roller 18 has the lowfriction unit 18 a provided over the whole outer circumference thereof,wherein the coefficient of friction of the low friction unit 18 a issmaller than the coefficient of friction of the high friction unit 16 aof each first kicker roller 16. These kicker rollers 16, 18 arerespectively configured to be rotated at approximately the sameperipheral velocity. Furthermore, the length of the outer circumferenceof each first kicker roller 16 is set greater than the feed-directionlength of the banknote having the largest size of the banknotes to befed by the banknote feeding apparatus 10. In this manner, the secondkicker rollers 18 that can support the kicking operation for thebanknotes are provided, in addition to the first kicker rollers 16respectively provided for directly kicking the banknotes toward the feedrollers 12, while these kicker rollers 16, 18 are configured to berotated at approximately the same peripheral velocity. Therefore, evenwhen various kinds of banknotes respectively having different sizes arestored in the hopper 101, the kicking operation for the banknotes towardthe feed rollers 12 can be securely performed. More specifically, evenwhen the position of each banknote stored in the hopper 101 isconsiderably shifted away from the feed rollers 12, such a shiftedbanknote can be fed toward the feed rollers 12, due to the second kickerrollers 18, each rotated continuously at the peripheral velocityapproximately the same as that of each first kicker roller 16.Therefore, the failure or error can be successfully prevented, upon thekicking operation for each banknote toward the feed rollers 12 by usingsuch kicker rollers 16, 18. Additionally, even when each banknote is notin contact with the high friction unit 16 a of each first kicker roller16, the low friction part 18 a provided over the whole outercircumference of each continuously rotated second kicker roller 18 canalways push such a banknote toward the kicker rollers 12. Thus, thisbanknote pushed toward the feed rollers 12 can be securely kicked by thehigh friction unit 16 a of each first kicker roller 16.

In addition, the diameter of each first kicker roller 16 issubstantially the same as the diameter of each second kicker roller 18,while the coordinates of the position of each first kicker roller 16 isdifferent from the coordinates of the position of each second kickerroller 18, in the direction along the shaft 17 of the first kickerrollers 16. Furthermore, when seen in the direction along the shaft 17,the first kicker rollers 16 and second kicker rollers 18 arerespectively arranged, such that each first kicker roller 16 can bepartly and alternately overlapped with each second kicker roller 18.This can reduce the distance between the first kicker rollers 16 and thesecond kicker rollers 18. As such, even when the banknotes having arelatively small size are stored in the hopper 101, each banknote can besecurely brought into contact with both of the first kicker rollers 16and the second kicker rollers 18, while being well flattened. Therefore,the second kicker rollers 18 can be utilized for supporting the kickingoperation for the banknotes.

1. A banknote feeding apparatus adapted for feeding a plurality ofbanknotes stored in a banknote storage unit, one by one, through a feedopening of the banknote storage unit, the banknote feeding apparatuscomprising: a feed roller provided in the vicinity of the feed openingof the banknote storage unit and adapted for feeding out the banknotes,one by one, successively, through the feed opening toward the exteriorof the banknote storage unit; a gate unit provided to be opposed to thefeed roller, thereby forming a gate part between the gate unit and thefeed roller; a first kicker roller configured to be in contact with asurface of one banknote of the plurality of banknotes stored in thebanknote storage unit and adapted for kicking the one contacted banknotetoward the gate part, the first kicker roller being further configuredto be continuously rotated and having an outer-circumferential lengthset greater than a length in a feed direction of the banknote having thelargest size of the banknotes to be fed out by the banknote feedingapparatus, and further having a high friction unit adapted for kickingeach banknote and partly provided in the outer circumference of thefirst kicker roller; and a second kicker roller provided upstreamrelative to the first kicker roller in the feed direction of thebanknotes, the second kicker roller being configured to be continuouslyrotated, at approximately the same peripheral velocity as that of thefirst kicker roller, and having a low friction unit having a coefficientof friction lower than the coefficient of friction of the high frictionunit of the first kicker roller and provided over the whole outercircumference of the second kicker roller.
 2. The banknote feedingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the first kickerroller is approximately the same as the diameter of the second kickerroller, and wherein the first kicker roller and second kicker roller arearranged, respectively, in positions such that the first kicker rollercan be partly and alternately overlapped with the second kicker roller,when seen in an axial direction of the first kicker roller, without anyinterference between the first kicker roller and the second kickerroller in the axial direction of the first kicker roller.
 3. Thebanknote feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the firstkicker roller is provided in a plural number along a common shaft, andwherein the positions, in which the plurality of first kicker rollersare arranged, are set, respectively, such that, when assuming that thebanknote having the smallest size of the banknotes to be fed out by thebanknote feeding apparatus is divided into a pair of left and rightregions, with respect to an imaginary central line defined along thefeed direction of the banknotes, such a pair of left and right regionsof the banknote having the smallest size and stored in any givenposition of the banknote storage unit can be kicked out by the firstkicker rollers, respectively.
 4. The banknote feeding apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein three first kicker rollers are provided,wherein one of the three first kicker rollers is located correspondingto a central position of the banknote storage unit in a direction alongthe shaft of the first kicker rollers, and wherein the other two of thethree first kicker rollers are respectively located in positions thatare symmetrical about the first kicker roller located corresponding tothe central position of the banknote storage unit.
 5. The banknotefeeding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein two second kickerrollers are arranged along a common shaft, while each second kickerroller is located between each adjacent pair of the first kickerrollers, and wherein the first kicker rollers and second kicker rollersare arranged, respectively, in positions such that each first kickerroller can be partly and alternately overlapped with each second kickerroller, when seen in the axial direction of the first kicker roller.